Michigan's first governor remains missing

upi ^ | June 29, 2010

[JoeProBono]

DETROIT, - Detroit officials said workers have been unable to locate the remains of Michigan's first governor as part of a park renovation project.

The officials said workers moved the statue of Gov. Stevens T. Mason, who was first elected governor at the age of 24 in 1835, two years before Michigan gained statehood, in Capitol Park, but there was no sign of the governor's remains beneath the memorial, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.

Experts said details of Mason's last reburial, which occurred in 1955, are sparse due to a strike at the local newspapers. The remains are variously described as ashes in an urn and a full skeleton.

"Now we're thinking we'll have to dig underneath, maybe 8 feet or so," said Darwyn Parks, project manager for contractor Tooles.

Mason died in 1844 and his remains were moved to the park in 1905. They were last moved in 1955.

Parks said workers will continue searching for the body Tuesday.

[JoeProBono]

Stevens T. Mason Statue, Capitol Park, Detroit

The Boy Governor Stevens T. Mason led Michigan's struggle for statehood. He was appointed acting territorial secretary at age 19 and became acting territorial governor in 1834 at age 22. He authorized a census, one of the requirements for statehood, and convened a constitutional convention. Michigan voters approved the constitution and elected Mason governor in 1835. Because of a dispute with Ohio over Toledo (called the "Toledo War"), Michigan did not become a state until 1837. Mason served until 1839. A city in Ingham County, Mason County and a state office building are named for Stevens T. Mason.

[dfwgator]

Michigan's first governor remains missing

I certainly wouldn't hold out much hope for finding him alive.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Hiking on the Appalachian Trail?

[kempster]

My bet is Governor Granholm sold him on EBay to help reduce the enormous state budget deficit.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

So he got lost because there was a strike? Shoosh, Detroit karma is a bit#h Govenor.

[The_Media_never_lie]

My bet he’s in Argentina.

[Vigilanteman]

Too bad the current governor doesn’t go missing. Michigan could demand a hefty ransom as a precondition for taking her back. :->

[JoeProBono]

Emily Mason (1815-1909) was Stevens T. Mason's oldest sister. The family moved to Detroit in 1830 when her father was appointed Secretary of the Territory of Michigan. Her brother, Stevens T., was appointed to the position, age 19, when her father resigned in 1831. Emily was her brother's official hostess when he was elected Governor. Mason was the author of several books in her later life.

[kalee]

He’s probably hiding because they keep moving him. Let the poor man rest in peace in one place.

[JoeProBono]

[pallis]

Better to get lost after your dead than before.

[Verginius Rufus]

From what I’ve been told, the Toledo War was over which state would have Toledo—Michigan or Ohio. Ohio lost.

[JoeProBono]

[SunkenCiv]

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[JoeProBono]

"not sending a general distribution."

Sooooo... why not?

[SunkenCiv]

Shh! I’ve got the remains, and I’m tryin’ to keep it quiet.

[Verginius Rufus]

Interesting marker. I think at the time residents of Michigan Territory thought they got the worse end of the deal since they considered the additional land in the Upper Peninsula to be worthless (I think it was referred to as "Siberia"), although they were wrong about that. The real losers were the people of Wisconsin who would have gotten that land otherwise.

Indiana extends further north than it should by the 1787 guidelines--which would have given it almost no coastline along Lake Michigan.

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

[Think free or die]

I agree - Michigan got the better part of the deal. The UP is lovely and provided a lot of mining, fishing, trapping, and tourism revenue over the years. Now if Michigan could just arrange to give Detroit to Ohio . . .

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Now if Michigan could just arrange to give Detroit to Ohio Ontario . . ."

Fixed it for you.